Full-time fire fighters in Tracadie, N.B., are looking forward to better wages, safer working conditions and a safer community after their recent affiliation with the IAFF.
Nine Tracadie Local 5428 members serve the northern New Brunswick municipality of nearly 17,000 people. The composite department only introduced full-time fire protection five years ago.
The affiliation was delayed more than a year when another union tried to claim the fire fighters, who were previously unrepresented, but the affiliation was finalized in August with the presentation of their IAFF charter.
Now the Local is negotiating its first contract. said Local 5428 President Olivier LeBlanc.
“I knew we had to join a union; I did my research and talked to a few people about the IAFF and they suggested we go with that,” LeBlanc said. “The IAFF is a big family. Anytime we need assistance, we can reach out and get answers to our questions, so everyone is happy with that.”
Tracadie’s full-time fire fighters currently respond with three personnel per vehicle. LeBlanc said the Local – like many others in Atlantic Canada and across the country – is pushing for at least four per vehicle, the minimum required to safely begin interior rescue and suppression in a structure fire. Tracadie fire fighters were present in July when the IAFF and the Atlantic Provinces Professional Fire Fighters Association launched the 4 Fire Fighters 4 Your Safety campaign.
Local 5428 also hopes to enhance public safety by eventually expanding its members’ EMS roles and bringing wages and working conditions in line with other IAFF affiliates in the region.
The Tracadie affiliation continues a trend of growth for the IAFF in Canada in recent years. Since 2019, several new Locals have joined in Atlantic Canada, along with new affiliates in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Nunavut, Ontario and Quebec. Another affiliation is imminent in Quebec, which will be the IAFF’s 200th Local in Canada.
The IAFF is a big family. Anytime we need assistance, we can reach out and get answers to our questions, so everyone is happy with that.
Tracadie nb local 5428 president olivier leblanc
15th District Vice President Chris Ross said he was pleased to see the Tracadie fire fighters receive their IAFF charter and credited his predecessor, 15th District Vice President Emeritus David Burry, with laying the groundwork for the affiliation.
“There’s a certain amount of pride in welcoming another French-speaking Local from outside of Quebec, and it shows that the value of the IAFF resonates with professional fire fighters everywhere,” Ross said.
“This aligns perfectly with our ongoing efforts to better serve our Francophone members. With the new services in French through the revamped IAFF website, we continue to explore how this can help us grow our membership and provide unparalleled support to all professional fire fighters in the language of their choice.”
